They are scientists from the University of Victoria who are trying to regrow kelp forests, a crucial part of the marine habitat, amid threats from heat waves, climate change and voracious sea urchins.
“We found that both of those were disappearing in areas that really became abnormally warm during this long, extended heat wave,” said Baum.The four-year project, funded by $3.68 million from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is now well into its second year, with researchers teaming up with British Columbia coastal First Nations to grow kelp in nurseries at Bamfield on Barkley Sound.
“So, these are really large-scale manipulative experiments where we are planting kelp. It’s kind of like replanting a forest, reforesting an area," she said. “The road map to kelp recovery is through awareness. It’s all about awareness — there’s strength in numbers," she said in the statement.